scarlet leaves I will
gather into my sleeves and
carry them with me—
for those who have already
thought that autumn is done

Meaning

I will gather these crimson leaves into my sleeves and carry them home—for those who believe that autumn has already come to its end.

Commentary

Book Five Autumn Poems (Part Two)

This poem was composed when the poet went mushroom gathering in the northern hills of Kyoto with the monk Sōjō Henjō.

Upon entering the mountains, he was delighted to find that the autumn leaves still remained. Wanting to share that joy, he resolves to gather the leaves into his sleeves and bring them back to show others. The poem expresses the simple yet vivid delight of this unexpected discovery.

Sōjō Henjō was the father of the poet Sosei.

Author

Sosei Hoshi

Source

Kokin Wakashu

Other

though no ears appear I guard the mountain rice fields— in my humble dress; there is not a single day I am not soaked with the dew
in fields already reaped the shoots that rise anew yet put forth no ears— is it that even the world has wearied now beyond all
from the deep mountains the water that comes falling down— seeing its color I have come to know at last that autumn has reached its end
year after year the Tatsuta River sends down crimson autumn leaves— is its harbor the place where autumn comes to its rest

scarlet leaves I will gather into my sleeves and carry them with me— for those who have already thought that autumn is done

scarlet leaves I will
gather into my sleeves and
carry them with me—
for those who have already
thought that autumn is done